Strike! The miners strike remembered 22 years on
commoner | 06.03.2006 20:53 | Repression | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Sheffield
This Sunday at the Commonplace social centre in Leeds, we will remember the miners strike with films, talks, photo exhibitions and cheap grub. Come along to 23-25 Wharf Street in the City Centre
www.thecommonplace.org.uk
www.thecommonplace.org.uk
On 12 March, 1984, some 100,000 miners laid down their tools in what became one of the longest and bloodiest industrial disputes in British history. Thatcher's government had ripped up a longstanding agreement and announced 20 pit closures with the loss of 20,000 jobs. Supported by an incredible solidarity movement led by the women of the community, the strike lasted a year but was ultimately doomed to failure. The government had stockpiled coal reserves and as growing poverty, personal hardship and a tough Christmas hit home, the strike collapsed by 3 March 1985. We will mark this heroic working class struggle by hearing from ex-miners and showing a number of films, including The Battle of Orgreave, the bloody June '84 assault on picketing miners by police and army.
2pm The miners campaign tapes
3.30pm Talk by Dave Douglas ex miner and author of ‘Geordies Wa Mental’
4pm Photo exhibition of the miners strike by Martin Shakeshaft
5pm The Battle of Orgreave
The climactic clash of the 1984 miners' strike at Orgreave, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire was recreated on 17th June 2001.
6pm Food and social
Entry by donation. Membership is £2
2pm The miners campaign tapes
3.30pm Talk by Dave Douglas ex miner and author of ‘Geordies Wa Mental’
4pm Photo exhibition of the miners strike by Martin Shakeshaft
5pm The Battle of Orgreave
The climactic clash of the 1984 miners' strike at Orgreave, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire was recreated on 17th June 2001.
6pm Food and social
Entry by donation. Membership is £2
commoner
Homepage:
http://www.thecommonplace.org.uk
Additions
Army involvement - Benns diaries
30.03.2006 13:02
Tony Benn states in his diaries that while on the train to Chesterfied a man introducing himself as an ex soldier told him that the Royal Green Jackets and the SAS were involved in the strike.
Look at the footage, see the shaven headed police marching in perfect formation, many police uniforms had no numbers.
I read an account of a miner stating he recognised a cop as being a friends son who was serving in the Rhine army.
David Hart the millionaire unofficial Thatcher adviser stated in the True Spies series on BBC2 in 2002 that he paid ex SAS men to protect scabs.
Look at the footage, see the shaven headed police marching in perfect formation, many police uniforms had no numbers.
I read an account of a miner stating he recognised a cop as being a friends son who was serving in the Rhine army.
David Hart the millionaire unofficial Thatcher adviser stated in the True Spies series on BBC2 in 2002 that he paid ex SAS men to protect scabs.
Daniel Neville
e-mail:
dneville2001@yahoo.co.uk
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